Plans have been revealed for a new childcare centre to be built on the site of the demolished Church Street Children’s Centre in West Footscray.
Star Weekly last year reported the overall cost of redeveloping the centre has blown out to almost $6 million – close to three times the initial $2 million project budget for a redevelopment that was halted mid-2016 when builders discovered “serious structural design issues”.
Families using the centre were relocated to Maribyrnong Community Centre in 2016 and will remain there until at least the start of 2019.
The new plans, developed for Maribyrnong Council by Four18 Architecture, show a two-storey, 98-place centre providing long day care with an integrated kindergarten.
A planning permit application for the 1412 square-metre site suggested that the proposal would deliver a positive planning outcome “by improving and expanding services available to the community”.
The application stated that the proposed building would provide a design that incorporates the principles for environmentally sustainable development, with “an architectural presentation that provides a visual identity, a sense of place, to serve community need”.
The environmentally sustainable design elements include green walls and natural ventilation.
Proceeds from the sale of the now-closed Empire Street Early Learning Centre property will go towards funding the rebuild.
The new plans, developed for Maribyrnong Council by Four18 Architecture, show a two-storey, 98-place centre providing long day care with an integrated kindergarten.
A planning permit application for the 1412 square-metre site suggests that the proposal delivers a positive planning outcome “by improving and expanding services available to the community”.
The application states that the proposed building provides a design that has incorporated the principles for environmentally sustainable development, with “an architectural presentation that provides a visual identity, a sense of place, to serve community need”.
The environmentally sustainable design elements include green walls and natural ventilation.
Proceeds from the sale of the now-closed Empire Street Early Learning Centre property will go towards funding the rebuild.
Maribyrnong Council community services director Clem Gillings said the Council is awaiting a Ministerial exemption, which is currently being considered.
“The remainder of the funding for the project will be approved as part of Council’s budget process,” she said.
“Council is still aiming for the centre to be reopened in 2019, subject to no further delay in relation to planning and ministerial exemption processes.”
Feedback on the plans should be lodged by February 2.
